CHRIS Hughton says he is quite prepared to be flexible with his formations this campaign.

For the first time in pre-season he opted for a 4-5-1 that morphed into a 4-3-3 when Blues had the ball and went forward, with decisive purpose.

Chris Burke and Nathan Redmond had the flank berths against Everton, and Keith Fahey adopted a more advanced role from the centre of the park.

“It was more out of necessity,” Hughton said, in relation to absentees due to injury.

“When I look at what we’ve got, with the three main strikers as such out injured, and with what we have in the middle of the park, it was an opportunity to play the three players in there.

“It’s not a system I always use but I think what you have to be is flexible.”

The St Andrew’s crowd certainly got a buzz from the dynamism down the wings, and a front-foot attitude all told.

“What they do like to see, the supporters, is attacking play,” said Hughton.

“We knew what we were getting in Burkey because that’s the way he plays, irrespective of whether he’s performing good or bad, that’s the type of player he is. They wouldn’t have seen so much of Redmond and I think it was a nice surprise for them.”